For the Week of 2/6 - 2/10

Welcome Message from Dr. Clapp
Classroom Peeks
Parent Helping Parents
HKMS Happenings
Counselor's Corner
Ways to get Involved
and...Upcoming Events!

Dear HKMS families,

Last week's opening message about fentanyl-laced drugs that children are allegedly buying over social media, generated a number of replies from concerned parents. I included one especially important message in a new section of this newsletter we are calling "Parents Helping Parents." Often the solution to issues or other great ideas are brought forward by our wonderful parent community, and I would like to include these great insights in this section.

I am also very excited and proud to announce an ER9 first ever tri-district PTO fundraiser and Pink out Day on 2/14. Proceeds will go to the Norma F. Pfriem Foundation for Breast Cancer. 100% of the donations go directly to patients and their care! We hope to see EVERYONE in pink and of course to raise a pile of money for a terrific cause. See the flyer below with all the details. A huge shout out to Mrs. Mohr for leading the way on this incredible event!

What a tremendous five-day week we are completing! As you check out this week's newsletter, look for Shark Tank inventions in Dr. Baca's class, telling time in French, the viewing of Hidden Figures by seventh-graders, and robot creations in PLTW!

Happy spring!? It sure feels like it out there today. I hope you and you children can take advantage of the April-like weather we are experiencing today and have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Steve Clapp

Principal

Helen Keller Middle School

Find your strength, build upon it, and share it!

Grade 6

French students are telling time, discussing the importance of being fluent with telling time in French and being able to read an analogue clock.

Our youngest mathematicians are busy learning coordinate graphing with Mrs. Brodeur's guidance!

Grade 7

On the next episode of "That's So Baca," the Shark Tank sharks will be evaluating the designs of a vehicle that can travel to the center of the Earth, created by our young scientists!

Hidden Figures

After spending the morning on NWEA/MAP testing, the seventh grade viewed the highly decorated film Hidden Figures. Here are just a few ways the teachers are connecting this film to current learning:

The current unit of study in ILA is argument writing. Eventually, students will conduct research to create arguments about important social issues.
In Social Studies, social issues are discussed in different units throughout the year. Connections and comparisons are made to what different groups of people face, as well as how they are handled.
In Science, students are designing vehicles that have the technology and structure to travel to the center of the Earth. Using mathematical calculations to develop vehicles capable of such travel can be transferred from this film to the science classroom.
In Math, they are now starting to apply the concepts they are learning to real world situations, similar to the characters in Hidden Figures.

Grade 8

Mr. Mac's scientists are puzzled! Completing a puzzle without knowing the final image is super challenging, but how does it connect to science? The Next Generation Science Standards (or NGSS) is an assessment that asks you to use prior knowledge and skills and apply them to new contexts or situations. This puzzle activity is designed to engage students in utilizing techniques, skills, and knowledge they have practiced in the past to solve a jigsaw puzzle in which they do not know what the final outcome should be. The only thing that students can do is persevere, connecting pieces along the way to try to build a clear picture of what the final outcome should be.

All hands on deck in Algebra classes. Dr. Pocchiari, Mrs. Wolstencroft, and Mrs. Dunkerton all pitching in to bridge the gap until Mr. Crawford starts...in just 4 more days!

FPA

PLTW Engineers are using their knowledge of gear ratios to design and build robots to help clean up a toxic mess...or take over the world!

What has Minions, Family Guy, and Golden Retrievers? Art portfolios! Every trimester Mrs. G's artists create their own unique decorated folders to protect and organize their finished pieces.

It take a village to raise a child (African Proverb).

We have such a great community of parents who often give us a heads-up, insight or know how that we would never find out or have to struggle through. This section is our village square, dedicated to sharing those tips from other parents. (note: all identities have been removed or altered for privacy).

This week we had quite a bit of feedback from parents who read last week's opening message about Snapchat and cell phones. We thought this one was particularly helpful for all of us:

Topic: iPhone Screen Time Controls Not Working after Recent Apple Update!

Thank you for always fighting the cell phone battle. It is so hard as a parent and it really feels nice to read your words and get that little bit of encouragement to keep on battling. ___ and I just discovered today that our family limits weren’t working. After some more investigating, ___ discovered that this is a problem with the most recent Apple update. We were thinking our children had figured out some sort of sneaky work-around. I was relieved to see this was not the case, but disheartened to see that our ____ in high school, was on his phone 9 hours yesterday. 9 hours on a school day!

The limits are incredibly necessary. Anyway, I thought it made sense to let you know that there is a problem with the parental controls right now on all Apple phones. The frustrating part is that it looks like you are setting the limits, but nothing happens on the kids’ phones. ___ says there is a way to fix it once we have their phones in hand, but I am guessing that we aren’t the only family right now whose children have been completely unrestricted for the last month or so…. So sad.

HKMS MathCounts Team!

Congratulations to Mr. D and the HKMS team at last Saturday's MathCounts regional competition, where the first ever HKMS MathCounts team did their best and made us proud as they competed against a very tough field and took on some extremely challenging math.

"13!" The HKMS musical is coming!

Cast and crew alike are putting scenes and scenery together! (Pictures by Ashley)

The Amazing Stage Crew!

The whole cast rehearsing a musical number

New Staff Joining the HKMS Family!

Mr. Richard Crawford

Our New Grade 8 Math Teacher is starting on 2/21!

Ms. Melanie Stiebeling

Our new Math Para-Educator who joined our team today! Melanie will be supporting teachers in our various math classes and working with small groups of students in math workshop.

Check out the library's latest display! Sharing our love of books and sharing selections for Black History month!

What exactly do school counselors do?

Counselors work to foster an educational system where students can realize their true potential.

School counselors are actively engaged in helping students:
examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents;
guide their academic and career planning;
focus on positive ways to enhance students' social/personal, educational and career development;
work in partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today's world; and
work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students maximize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations.

They focus their efforts on improving academic achievement for all students
They listen, support, and advise.
Guide academic and career planning.
Providing transition into and out of schools.
School counseling is a key component of the system of support for the school-family-community relationship to help students be successful.
They deliver a developmental counseling core curriculum designed that helps students attain the competencies (knowledge, attitudes and skills) appropriate for their age.
Consultation, referrals, and collaboration with parents, teachers, other educators and community organizations.

Based on the post NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK from the Department of Defense Education

School Spiritwear Store!

https://stapleskellerspiritwear.com/

Keller Educational Discussions

Do you have an area of expertise middle schoolers can learn from? Do you like sharing? We want you to give a KED-Talk! Click here for more information and to sign up!

Best Fit Colleges with Rob Franek

The editor and chief from the Princeton Review will be at JBHS on February 23 at 7:00 for a very informative presentation. It is never too early to learn this valuable information!

To register use this link: https://secure.princetonreview.com/event?PSOId=512675&fbclid=IwAR1RHrW3PLQrZFEKPEbIVD7HZ6Tt65lHSoD7Q5uk7Jq6A4BhRu68DtDv4i4

From Our Friends at the...

Dear HKMS,

This is a wonderful, energetic program to celebrate Black History Month. Students can take the bus to the library and check it out. Registration is required, link here.

Kristine Oulman
Youth Services Librarian
Easton Public Library